The asthma epidemic levels off for most, not for poor children or kids in the South

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Photos:Allergy-proof your day

Allergy-proof your day – Now that hay fever season has hit, your first instinct might be to pop an antihistamine. It's not a bad one: "If you have allergies, one of the best things you can do is start medications early, even before your symptoms kick in," says Dr. Neeta Ogden, an allergist in New York.

But, she adds, it's also crucial to make tweaks to your daily routine to avoid whatever sparks your symptoms. Read on for easy, effective ways to keep sniffles at bay 24/7.

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Photos:Allergy-proof your day

Keep your windows shut – Tree and grass pollen -- the main causes of spring allergies -- can blow into your house if you open your windows even a crack, "especially during the early morning hours, when tree pollen counts are typically the highest," says Dr. Vincent Tubiolo, an allergy, asthma and immunology specialist in Santa Barbara, California.

Stuffy inside? Run the air conditioning, but change your filters before each season to remove pollen, dust and mold. If you're really suffering, invest in an air purifier with a HEPA filter to help suck up lingering allergens.

Snack on yogurt – People who consumed a yogurt drink containing the probiotic Lactobacillus casei once a day for five months had lower levels of an antibody that produces allergy symptoms, according to a study from the Institute of Food Research in the United Kingdom. Researchers are now looking into whether that might actually lessen the severity of those symptoms.

In the meantime, it couldn't hurt to take probiotic supplements or eat yogurt regularly. Check the label to see if a product contains L. casei.

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Take a breather – Research shows that stress can aggravate allergic reactions, even a full day after an anxiety-producing event. That might be because as stress hormones in your body rise, so do levels of cytokines -- proteins we produce as part of the allergic response, according to research from Ohio State University.

To keep an even keel during allergy season, soothe yourself by breathing deeply, listening to tunes you love or working out.

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LImit outdoor runs to the afternoon – If you prefer to run or walk outdoors, do so in the afternoon, when pollen counts are lower, Tubiolo advises. But if your allergies are really bad, you're better off sticking with the gym or at-home workouts.Health.com: Home remedies for allergies: What works?

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Kick off your shoes at home – This will prevent you from tracking pollen all over the house. Better yet, strip off your clothes and hop in the shower so pollen doesn't linger on your hair and body. Run the bathroom fan to keep humidity levels down and prevent mold spores -- another allergy trigger -- from taking hold.

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Eat salmon – Participants in a German study who consumed the highest amount of a type of omega-3 fatty acid called EPA (found in fatty fish, like salmon) had a lower risk of developing hay fever. This substance might quash allergy symptoms by reducing inflammation in the body, Ogden says.

Don't eat fish regularly? Taking an omega-3 supplement with EPA can also help, she says.

Pop a 24-hour allergy pill before bed – That's right -- before bed. Some antihistamines can make you drowsy. Plus, many of them take an hour or two to kick in, Tubiolo explains. That means they'll start working while you're asleep and you'll be symptom-free when you step out the door.Health.com: Your secret allergy triggers revealed

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Story highlights

The asthma epidemic of the last few decades may have plateaued for children overall

Children in the South, preteens and teens, and poor children still see increases in rates

Asthma proof your home by reducing dust and mold

(CNN)The "asthma epidemic" became a serious public health concern as more children were diagnosed with asthma in the last few decades, but those numbers may finally have plateaued for children overall, according to a new study. The news is not so great for children living in the South, for the poor or for preteens and teens.

The understanding of this trend comes from an analysis of National Health Interview Survey data, a government questionnaire that asks a nationally representative sample of parents about their childen's health. Records from over 150,000 children were included in this analysis. The study runs in the January edition of Pediatrics. The authors write that they will need more years' worth of data to see if the trend is truly a reverse in the epidemic or if this is a smaller change.

For now, what they understand is that the asthma rate actually doubled from 1980 to 1995 (from 3.6% in 1980 to 7.5% in 1995). The rate of increase slowed from 2001 to 2010 (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.3% in 2010) and racial disparities increased as more African-American and Hispanic kids were diagnosed with asthma than white children. But from 2008 the numbers seem to plateau and then decline in the most recent years we have data. The latest data goes through 2013.

That's the potential good news for children overall. When you break down the numbers by group, the trend is not as positive. The trouble spots still seem to be for kids who live in the South, for children between the ages of 10 and 17 and children who are poor. Each of these groups continue to see an increase in asthma rates.

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There appears to be good news about the racial disparities in diagnosis. That seems to be leveling off largely due to the number of Mexican children diagnosed with asthma, which accounted for the big increase in years past. Those numbers seem to be leveling off.

The authors can't explain what's behind these trends. Earlier work theorized that the increase in children diagnosed with asthma may have been due in part to doctors' better awareness about asthma. Children who were wheezing in earlier decades may have been diagnosed with some other kind of respiratory illness.

For an asthma patient, a doctors' care is most important, but there are also some easy steps you can take to help reduce the risk of having an attack.

Doctors suggest you do whatever you can to keep your home and especially the bedroom dust and mold-free since both are big triggers for attacks. An allergen-proof pillowcase and cover for the mattress and box spring can reduce exposure. Washing the bedding weekly helps.

Keep clutter to a minimum. Stuffed animals, books, knick-knacks and carpeting are all great dust collectors. Put the clutter in sealed bins and remove carpet if possible. Glass-front bookcases also help. Furniture should be made of easy-to-clean materials like wood, plastic or leather. Upholstered furniture is a great breeding ground for dust mites. Keep pets out of the bedroom and if the cat or dog can stand it, a weekly bath helps reduce dander.

HEPA filters can help clean the air. House plants should be kept to a minimum, but if you like them, spread aquarium gravel over the dirt to reduce mold growth. A bathroom fan when you shower can reduce mold growth as can replacing shower curtains regularly. Seal cracks that let in mice and cockroaches. And Keep the temperature between 68 and 72, since mold spores and dust mites love to grow in hot and humid houses.